Alcoholism an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and

compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency.

Alcohol health risks

Short-term effects of alcohol consumption include intoxication and dehydration. Long-term effects of
alcohol consumption include changes in the metabolism of the liver and brain and alcoholism (alcohol
dependency).

http://www.omicsonline.org/scholarly/alcohol-health-risks-journals-articles-pptslist.php

Effects of Alcoholism
The long-standing effects of alcohol (ethanol) consumption range from cardioprotective health benefits for
low to moderate alcohol consumption. High levels of alcohol consumption are associated with an
increased risk of alcoholism, malnutrition, chronic pancreatitis, alcoholic liver disease and cancer. In
addition, damage to the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system can occur from chronic
alcohol abuse.

Alcohol use disorder (which includes a level that's sometimes called alcoholism) is a
pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being
preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems,
having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you
rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or
causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking a pattern of
drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female downs
at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety
risks.
If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems
functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild
to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so
early treatment is important.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-usedisorder/basics/definition/con-20020866

Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of
symptoms you experience. Signs and symptoms may include:

Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so

Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use

Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol

Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use

Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or
interpersonal problems

Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies

Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming

Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a
reduced effect from the same amount

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating and shaking when

you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms

Alcohol use disorder can include periods of alcohol intoxication and symptoms of
withdrawal.

Alcohol intoxication results as the amount of alcohol in your blood stream increases.
The higher the blood alcohol concentration is, the more impaired you become. Alcohol
intoxication causes behavior problems and mental changes. These may include
inappropriate behavior, unstable moods, impaired judgment, slurred speech, impaired

attention or memory, and poor coordination. You can also have periods called "blackouts,"
where you don't remember events. Very high blood alcohol levels can lead to coma or even
death.

Alcohol withdrawal can occur when alcohol use has been heavy and prolonged and is
then stopped or greatly reduced. It can occur within several hours to four or five days later.
Symptoms include sweating, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, problems sleeping, nausea and
vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness and agitation, anxiety, and occasionally seizures.
Symptoms can be severe enough to impair your ability to function at work or in social
situations.

What is considered one drink?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one standard drink as
any one of these:

12 ounces (355 milliliters) of regular beer (about 5 percent alcohol)

8 to 9 ounces (237 to 266 milliliters) of malt liquor (about 7 percent alcohol)

5 ounces (148 milliliters) of unfortified wine (about 12 percent alcohol)

1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof hard liquor (about 40 percent alcohol)

When to see a doctor

If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or it's causing problems, or your
family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your doctor. Other ways to get help
include talking with a mental health provider or seeking help from a support group such
as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group.
Because denial is common, you may not feel like you have a problem with drinking. You
might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related
to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine
your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a
problem drinking, but has stopped.

If your loved one needs help

Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don't
recognize they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people

recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you're concerned about
someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for
advice on how to approach that person.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-usedisorder/basics/symptoms/con-20020866

Causes
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking
alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking
has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.
Over time, drinking too much alcohol may change the normal function of the areas of
your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to
exercise control over your behavior. This may result in craving alcohol to try to restore
good feelings or reduce negative ones.

Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include:

Steady drinking over time. Drinking too much on a regular basis for an
extended period or binge drinking on a regular basis can lead to alcohol-related
problems or alcohol use disorder.

Age. People who begin drinking at an early age, and especially in a binge
fashion, are at a higher risk of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use may begin in the
teens, but alcohol use disorder occurs more frequently in the 20s and 30s. However,
it can begin at any age.

Family history. The risk of alcohol use disorder is higher for people who have a
parent or other close relative who has problems with alcohol. This may be influenced
by genetic factors.

Depression and other mental health problems. It's common for people with a
mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
to have problems with alcohol or other substances.

Social and cultural factors. Having friends or a close partner who drinks
regularly could increase your risk of alcohol use disorder. The glamorous way that
drinking is sometimes portrayed in the media also may send the message that it's
OK to drink too much. For young people, the influence of parents, peers and other
role models can impact risk.

Complications
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. In some people, the initial reaction may
be stimulation. But as you continue to drink, you become sedated.
Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your
brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is
of particular concern when you're taking certain medications that also depress the
brain's function.

Impact on your safety

Excessive drinking can reduce your judgment skills and lower inhibitions, leading to poor
choices and dangerous situations or behaviors, including:

Motor vehicle accidents and other types of accidental injury, such as drowning

Relationship problems

Poor performance at work or school

Increased likelihood of committing violent crimes or being the victim of a crime

Legal problems or problems with employment or finances

Problems with other substance use

Engaging in risky, unprotected sex, or becoming the victim of sexual abuse or date rape

Increased risk of attempted or completed suicide

Impact on your health

Drinking too much alcohol on a single occasion or over time can cause health problems,
including:

Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause increased fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis),
inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis), and over time, irreversible destruction and
scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).

Digestive problems. Heavy drinking can result in inflammation of the stomach lining
(gastritis), as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers. It also can interfere with absorption of
B vitamins and other nutrients. Heavy drinking can damage your pancreas or lead to
inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Heart problems. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure and increases your
risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause a serious
heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.

Diabetes complications. Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from your liver
and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have
diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level.

Sexual function and menstruation issues. Excessive drinking can cause erectile
dysfunction in men. In women, it can interrupt menstruation.

Eye problems. Over time, heavy drinking can cause involuntary rapid eye movement
(nystagmus) as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles due to a deficiency of
vitamin B-1 (thiamine). A thiamine deficiency also can be associated with other brain
changes, such as irreversible dementia, if not promptly treated.

Birth defects. Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage. It also may cause
fetal alcohol syndrome, resulting in giving birth to a child who has physical and
developmental problems that last a lifetime.

Bone damage. Alcohol may interfere with the production of new bone. This bone loss
can lead to thinning bones (osteoporosis) and an increased risk of fractures. Alcohol can

also damage bone marrow, which makes blood cells. This can cause a low platelet count,
which may result in bruising and bleeding.

Neurological complications. Excessive drinking can affect your nervous system,

causing numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, dementia, and
short-term memory loss.

Weakened immune system. Excessive alcohol use can make it harder for your body to
resist disease, increasing your risk of various illnesses, especially pneumonia.

Increased risk of cancer. Long-term excessive alcohol use has been linked to a higher
risk of many cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, colon and breast cancer. Even moderate
drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Medication and alcohol interactions. Some medications interact with alcohol,

increasing its toxic effects. Drinking while taking these medications can either increase or
decrease their effectiveness, or make them dangerous.

Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the

best care.

Learn more. Request an appointment.

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. If your doctor suspects you
have a problem with alcohol, he or she may refer you to a mental health provider.
To assess your problem with alcohol, your health care provider will likely:

Ask you several questions related to your drinking habits.The health care provider
may ask for permission to speak with family members or friends. However, confidentiality
laws prevent your health care provider from giving out any information about you without
your consent.

Perform a physical exam. Your health care provider may do a physical exam and ask
questions about your health. There are many physical signs that indicate complications of
alcohol use.

Lab tests and imaging tests. While there are no specific tests to diagnose alcohol use
disorder, certain patterns of lab test abnormalities may strongly suggest it. And you may
need tests to identify health problems that may be linked to your alcohol use. Damage to
your organs may be seen on tests.

Complete a psychological evaluation. This evaluation includes questions about your

symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. You may need to fill out a questionnaire
to help answer these questions.

Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the

best care.

Learn more. Request an appointment.

Treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on your needs. Treatment may
involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a
residential inpatient stay. Working to stop the use of alcohol to improve quality of life is
the main treatment goal.
Treatment for alcohol use disorder may include:

Detox and withdrawal. Treatment may begin with a program of detoxification or detox
withdrawal that's medically managed which generally takes two to seven days. You
may need to take sedating medications to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Detox is usually
done at an inpatient treatment center or a hospital.

Learning skills and establishing a treatment plan. This usually involves alcohol
treatment specialists. It may include goal setting, behavior change techniques, use of selfhelp manuals, counseling and follow-up care at a treatment center.

Psychological counseling. Counseling and therapy for groups and individuals help you
better understand your problem with alcohol and support recovery from the psychological
aspects of alcohol use. You may benefit from couples or family therapy family support can
be an important part of the recovery process.

Oral medications. A drug called disulfiram (Antabuse) may help to prevent you from
drinking, although it won't cure alcohol use disorder or remove the compulsion to drink. If

you drink alcohol, the drug produces a physical reaction that may include flushing, nausea,
vomiting and headaches. Naltrexone (Revia), a drug that blocks the good feelings alcohol
causes, may prevent heavy drinking and reduce the urge to drink. Acamprosate (Campral)
may help you combat alcohol cravings once you stop drinking. Unlike disulfiram, naltrexone
and acamprosate don't make you feel sick after taking a drink.

Injected medication. Vivitrol, a version of the drug naltrexone, is injected once a month
by a health care professional. Although similar medication can be taken in pill form, the
injectable version of the drug may be easier for people recovering from alcohol use disorder
to use consistently.

Continuing support. Aftercare programs and support groups help people recovering
from alcohol use disorder to stop drinking, manage relapses and cope with necessary
lifestyle changes. This may include medical or psychological care or attending a support
group.

Treatment for psychological problems. Alcohol use disorder commonly occurs along
with other mental health disorders. If you have depression, anxiety or another mental health
condition, you may need talk therapy (psychotherapy), medications or other treatment.

Medical treatment for health conditions. Many alcohol-related health problems

improve significantly once you stop drinking. But some health conditions may warrant
continued treatment and follow-up.

Spiritual practice. People who are involved with some type of regular spiritual practice
may find it easier to maintain recovery from alcohol use disorder or other addictions. For
many people, gaining greater insight into their spiritual side is a key element in recovery.

Residential treatment programs

For a serious alcohol problem, you may need a stay at a residential treatment facility.
Most residential treatment programs include individual and group therapy, support
groups, educational lectures, family involvement and activity therapy.
Residential treatment programs typically include licensed alcohol and drug counselors,
social workers, nurses, doctors and others with expertise and experience in treating
alcohol use disorder.